Euphorbia plant named ‘Floreupred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia  plant named ‘Floreupred’, characterized by its dark green-colored foliage that turns dark burgundy with increased sun exposure, moderate growth vigor, and well-branched, compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Euphorbia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Floreupred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEuphorbia plant botanically known as Euphorbia hybrid and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Floreupred’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inQuedlinburg, Germany during June 2008. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of dark-leaved, more compact, andwell-branched Euphorbia.

The new Euphorbia cultivar is the result of open-pollination within aninsect-cage environment. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar isa Euphorbia amygdaloides selection coded 3810-5, not patented,characterized by its light green-colored foliage, and vigorous, uprightgrowth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is an unknownEuphorbia, not patented. Species plants included in the cage environmentinclude but are not limited to E. baselicis, E. cyparissias, E.amygdaloides, E. myrsinites, E. dulcis, E. nicaeensis, E. walichii, andE. hypericifolia. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during May 2009 in a controlled environment inQuedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2009 in Quedlinburg, Germany and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Floreupred’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant:

-   -   1. Dark green-colored foliage that turns dark burgundy with        increased sun exposure;    -   2. Moderate growth vigor; and    -   3. Well-branched, compact growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in foliage color and in having a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Euphorbia cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Ruby Glow ‘Waleuphglo’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,200. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of ‘Waleuphglo’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have leaves in alternate        arrangement unlike plants of ‘Waleuphglo’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a longer internode length        than plants of ‘Waleuphglo’;    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have ovate-shaped cyathophylls        unlike plants of ‘Waleuphglo’; and    -   4. Plants of the new cultivar has a foliage color different from        plants of ‘Waleuphglo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Floreupred’. Theplants were grown in one-gallon containers for 30 weeks in a greenhousein Elburn, Ill. Plants were pinched once prior to transplant in thegallon containers. Approximately 4 weeks after transplant, plants werecut to 8 inches above the soil level.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth of ‘Floreupred’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of‘Floreupred’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual cyathium of‘Floreupred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in May 2015 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhousein Elburn, Ill. The plants were grown for 30 weeks in one-galloncontainers utilizing a soilless growth medium and were pinched onceprior to transplant. Approximately 4 weeks after transplant, plants werecut to 8 inches above the soil level. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 45° F. to 55° F. (7° C. to 13° C.) duringthe day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (2° C. to 7° C.) during thenight. No supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia hybrid cultivar Floreupred.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—A Euphorbia amygdaloides selection coded            3810-5, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown Euphorbia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 15 to 18 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6            weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 58.0 cm. Width: Approximately 70.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, divergent, pinching            enhances branching. Quantity of branches per plant:            Approximately 100.        -   Branch.—Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            48.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent. Color of young stems: 146D. Color of mature            stems: 146D with a heavy overlay of 187A, overlay darkens            with sun exposure.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:            Approximately 20, with a whorl of 5 leaves at base of            terminal inflorescence. Fragrance: None detected. Form:            Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves (stem).—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem.            Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:            Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface of            young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to 191A, venation            indistinguishable from lamina or faintly colored 187D,            midvein of 145D with a faint overlay of 187D. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: N137A with an overlay of 187A,            overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation            indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B. Color of            lower surface of mature foliage: 191A with an overlay of            187B, venation indistinguishable from lamina or faintly            colored 187B, midvein of 187C.        -   Leaves (at inflorescence base).—Aspect: Primarily            perpendicular to stem, in a whorl of 5 leaves. Shape: Ovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Rounded, sessile.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface of            young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to 191A, venation            indistinguishable from lamina or faintly colored 187D,            midvein of 145D with a faint overlay of 187D. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: N137A with an overlay of 187A,            overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation            indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B. Color of            lower surface of mature foliage: 191A with an overlay of            187B, venation indistinguishable from lamina or faintly            colored 187B, midvein of 187C.        -   Petiole (on stem leaves only).—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately            pubescent. Color: 146C tinted with 187A when mature.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Inflorescences of ‘Floreupred’ are            ornamentally insignificant. After exposure to short days            ‘Floreupred’ blooms under outdoor growing conditions from            early to late spring.        -   Lastingness of individual cyanthium.—Approximately 20 to 30            days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Cyathia arranged in terminal and            axillary cymes, terminal cymes having 5 axes. Aspect: Facing            upward and outward. Quantity of inflorescences per plant:            Approximately 80 terminal cymes and up to 7 axillary cymes            per branch. Fragrance: None detected. Depth or height of            cyme: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width: Approximately 4.3 cm.        -   Rachis.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146C maturing to 187A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per rachis: 3. Appearance: One pistil and            two stamens; stamens located within a tubular involucre that            surrounds the pedicel (pistil stalk); involucre has 4            petaloid nectaries at the upper rim, one pair of            cyathophylls at base of involucre. Fragrance: Not detected.            Depth: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Involucre.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color: Lighter than 145D, quickly senesces to            199D. Length of petaloid nectaries: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Width of petaloid nectaries: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color: 183A, quickly            senesces to 202A.        -   Cyathophylls.—Quantity: 2 per cyathium. Arrangement:            Opposite. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute.            Base: Rounded, sessile. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young cyathophylls: 137A            with venation of 137C. Color of lower surface of young            cyathophylls: Closest to 191A, venation indistinguishable            from lamina or faintly colored 187D, midvein of 145D. Color            of upper surface of mature cyathophylls: N137A with an            overlay of 187A, overlay darkens with sun exposure, venation            indistinguishable from lamina, midvein of 187B at base of            cyathophylls. Color of lower surface of mature cyathophylls:            191A with an overlay of 187B, venation indistinguishable            from lamina or faintly colored 187B.        -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2. Length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:            154D, quickly senesces. Pollen amount: None observed.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per cyathium, ovary supported            on a pedicel, 3 styles each 2-cleft, 6 stigmas. Pistil            length (not including pedicel): Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma width: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: 183A. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style            color: 137A. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary            diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Verrucose.            Ovary color: 137A at style transitioning through 144A to            144C at pedicel end, dotted with 187C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Euphorbia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plantnamed ‘Floreupred’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.